Ford will cut 3,800 jobs in Europe, mainly Germany and the UK. WGN Radio 720

BERLIN (AP) — Ford said on Tuesday it will cut 3,800 jobs in Europe over the next three years in a bid to streamline its operations to deal with economic headwinds and increasing competition for electric vehicles.

The automakers said 2,300 jobs would be lost in Germany, 1,300 in the UK and 200 in other parts of the continent. The company said its strategy to offer fully electric vehicles in Europe by 2035 remains unchanged, with production of the first European-made electric vehicles expected to start later this year.

The company said it was looking for “a leaner and more competitive cost structure for Ford in Europe.” It said it would initiate talks “with the aim of achieving cuts through a voluntary turnover program.”

Ford aims to cut 2,800 engineering jobs by 2025 as a result of the move to simpler electric vehicles, but plans to keep around 3,400 engineering jobs in Europe.

The remaining 1,000 jobs will be administratively reduced.

“These are not easy decisions, they are difficult decisions,” Martin Sander, Ford Model e’s general manager for Europe, said in a statement. We assure you that we will provide full support in the coming months.”

Ford employs approximately 34,000 people at wholly-owned facilities and consolidated ventures in Europe.